Today, we are returning to Ontario after traveling for over a week on Canada’s East Coast. We left from our home in Ottawa, traveling to Fredericton, New Brunswick for an overnight with Roger’s parents before heading to PEI, a place I had never visited before, for 3 days.
We then headed back to Fredericton to work the 5th annual Fredericton Fall Craft Show. Roger’s family organizes it, and we were thrilled that this was the show’s best year yet!
Today, I’d like to share with you how we continued to stay on track with our health goals while traveling, while also indulging a little as well…because for me, it’s not about starvation or sacrifice but about self-love and self-respect.
Here is a video of my hotel workout.
Here Is What I Did
- 50 Jumping Jacks
- 20 Squats
- 10 Jump Squats
- 10 Burpees (I did them!!)
- 20 Pushups
- 30 Mountain Climbers
- 50 Crunches
- Plank - Hold for One minute
- Repeat 2 More Times!
You can also find my recipe for Banana Chocolate Chunk Muffins (adapted from a Detoxinista recipe) as a pdf download at the bottom. They were a hit with Roger’s parents and are a staple in my kitchen. 🙂
On The Road Again
It is a ten hour drive from Ottawa to Fredericton, so having healthy snacks and small meals is imperative in order to maintain our energy and keep temptation at bay.
For this trip, I packed the usual suspects:
- Hard Boiled Eggs
- Hummus & Fresh Veggies (Cucumber, Red Peppers, Cherry Tomatoes, Carrots)
- enerjive Crackers (Cayenne & Garlic for dipping hummus & Chocolate for dipping peanut butter)
- Apples
- Bananas
- Green Smoothies
- Trail Mix
- Banana Chocolate Chunk Muffins (recipe below)
Keep It Movin'
Eating well on a road trip is most of the battle, but not all of it. Sitting for so long in one spot can cause back and leg pain, general fatigue and can just make me feel “icky”.
In order to avoid this, I like to do some kind of exercise every time I stop for a bathroom/gas break. It doesn’t take long and it makes the world of difference for my state of mind, my muscles and my energy levels. It also means that when I arrive at my destination, I feel pretty good, even after a long drive.
Here’s what I do:
- 30 Jumping Jacks
- 15 High Knees (jog on the spot, raising my knees as high as possible)
- 15 "bum taps" (jog on the spot, kicking my heels towards my butt)
- 20 squats
- Standing abdominal exercises (I talk about these in my first workout video)
I then drink water and stay hydrated until the next stop (I like to stop about every 2-3 hours).
Great Memories on PEI
I can not say enough good about the amazing people of PEI. I am blown away by the hospitality and the friendly nature of every single person we came across. Two different people on our trip said that they were born and raised being told to look people in the eye and to smile and wave. And they all do this. It is a very special place, and if you haven’t been to this pretty little island, I encourage you to put it on your list. 🙂 I will definitely be returning to this lovely part of Canada.
One of the highlights of our trip was our hotel stay at The Great George in Charlottetown. The main hotel, called The Pavilion, was completely gutted and renovated in 1997. It is charming, stylish, perfectly appointed and comfortable. It is understated elegance, and it is where our gourmet breakfast was served daily.
The hotel has acquired 20 properties over the years that bring the room count to 54. Each property is completely unique, and there has been incredible attention to detail paid to every single one. We had the privilege of staying on the third floor of Cundall House, which is also the owner's suite when they stay.
Kevin and Kathy Murphy are the visionaries and owners of The Murphy Group, who own The Great George, 3 other hotels and several restaurants. One of their stellar team members, Jacob, took us on a guided tour of the hotel and shared that it was Kevin's father, a former acting innkeeper, who set Kevin on his path by showing Kevin that "being with people, addressing their needs, and providing exceptional service" were the main ingredients in the recipe for success.
Indeed, every single employee went above and beyond our expectations. Their motto is "The answer is yes. What is the question?" and this is evident in everything they do.
On our second day, we took the Harbour Hippo, an amphibious vehicle that toured us around Charlottetown and then into the harbour for a little cruise. PEI has a rich history that is fascinating to discover.
On our last day, we drove to Cavendish to visit the site of Anne of green Gables' fabled home, and we walked the "Haunted Wood" and "Lover's Lane" on our way to the homestead where L.M. Montgomery wrote Anne Of Green Gables.
We enjoyed walking the 1.5 km to the site of L.M. Montgomery's grandparents' homestead (all together, we probably walked 5 kilometers on the stunning landscape), and we received a tour by Jennie Macneill, the wife of John Macneill, whose father was L.M. Montgomery's first cousin. At 86 years young, she was an inspiration to me.
At 60 years of age, she and her husband took on the task of excavating the foundation of the original farmhouse and they also uncovered the well. She and her husband continue to work the land, run the tours, and operate the bookstore, where I purchased Lucy Maud Montgomery: The Gift of Wings, a compilation of Montgomery's journals, written by Mary Henley Rubio. I had Jennie sign my book. 🙂
I Like To Move It!
When I am on vacation, I try really hard to balance eating well with indulging in local cuisine. And I like to choose activities that keep me moving, more than sitting.
PEI has some of the most amazing food, so I definitely didn't want to miss out on some of their specialties like the lamb burger at The Dunes Cafe & Gallery; Pizza from Piatto Pizzeria (it is certified Naples style pizza!); Fish cakes at The Water Prince Corner Shop (Kelly Ripa's favourite PEI fish restaurant!); Mussels from Blue Mussel Cafe on the North Rustico Harbour; and of course the home made chocolate chip cookies made daily at The Great George (seriously, there are chocolate chip macadamia nut cookies coming out of the oven every 15 minutes....it was soooo hard not to go crazy, but I did enjoy one a day!!) 🙂
So, while I kept portion sizes reasonable, ate healthy snacks like apples and trail mix, and made sure I ate a healthy breakfast each day, I did indulge in some of PEI's most delicious eats. 🙂
The Lowdown While I Cooldown
My philosophy to health is quite simple. I crowd out lots of bad by bringing in lots of good (I even managed to resist the scones)!
When I travel, I make it a priority to keep up my exercise regimen in order to maintain my energy and so that I don't veer too far off track. Just like I don't go too crazy with food while on vacation, if I quit exercising every time I was away from my gym, I would have a really hard time getting back into my routine.
So, although I do indulge when I am on holidays or having a "cheat day", I try to keep my cheats reasonable. I balance them with healthy meals and snacks, I avoid deep fried foods, I choose salads or veggies as a side dish whenever I can, and I exercise daily no matter where I am. It helps keep me on track and it still allows me to eat the cookie once in a while. 😉
I want the same for you.
Because I want you to love your life one bite at time.
P.S. Do you continue to exercise while you are on vacation? If so, what do YOU normally do?
P.P.S. Let's be friends! Connect with me on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram. 🙂
P.P.S.S. Here is the recipe for the Banana Chocolate Chunk Muffins 🙂
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